KIDS ARE FORCED TO DODGE HUGE PUDDLE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL
Submerged path is alongside busy A53
SCORES of schoolchildren are being forced to dodge a pavement left under water.
The submerged footpath in Endon has previously been fixed up by a kind-hearted local only for it to once again succumb to the bad weather.
And nearby on Leek
Road motorists are being routinely forced to head through flood water in the same area whenever there is heavy rain.
Now council officials say they are aware of the problems and work will be carried out - ‘when resources are available’.
North Staffordshire - and the wider county - has seen its road network take a real battering in the recent months with back-to-back storms leaving scores of roads under water.
Staffordshire County Council says it has pumped £2.5 million into improving drainage and ‘flood prevention’ with 67,745 gullies emptied across last year.
The cash has been spent on using high-pressure jet washers to clear debris from notorious gullies, drainage surveys with state-of-the-art cameras, ‘drainage dig downs’ to replace pipework, maintinance, drain clearing and attending emergency flooding incidents.
However some areas remain consistently under water - with two such places in Endon.
The bad weather has seen a pavement near the playing fields off Leek Road routinely submerged in recent weeks.
The footpath is used by scores of schoolchildren going to and from nearby Endon High School and also sits right by a busy bus stop.
On the road, and the stretch of the A53 near the junction with Amber Court regularly floods on both sides of the carriageway following heavy rain.
Ward councillor Joe Porter, pictured left, says himself and fellow councillors Keith Flunder and Charlotte Edwards have been calling on works to fix up flood-hit parts of the area.
He said: “We have all been putting pressure on the county council to get the issues resolved as soon as possible.”
Councillor Porter, who represents Endon and Brown Edge on Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, says the issue of the submerged footpath needs sorting.
He said: “It’s incredibly frustrating as one of my friends kindly took it upon themselves to clear and clean the pathway for the school children.”
The county council has said it is aware of the problems in the area. Councillor David Williams, pictured left, cabinet member for highways and transport at the local authority, said: “Our gully emptiers are working full-time across the entire highway network maintaining over 180,000 gullies.
“If there are problems during times of heavy rain we will prioritise those areas where private property is affected or flooding presents a hazard to the road user. Crews are aware of the issue by the playing fields and work to clear out the gullies has been scheduled in. This will be carried out when resources are available.
“The area by Moorland Nursery and close to the Amber Court junction is also affected by flooding following periods of heavy rain. Again, crews are aware of the issue and continue to monitor the area.”